Iowa SNAP benefits resume after shutdown as food banks hit $1M donation match

DES MOINES — Iowa households that rely on food assistance will begin receiving their long-delayed November SNAP benefits after Congress ended the 43-day federal government shutdown, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday.

The resumption comes after weeks of uncertainty for the more than 260,000 Iowans who receive approximately $45 million in monthly SNAP benefits, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. More than 130,000 Iowa households typically rely on monthly SNAP assistance.

Iowans should have already begun seeing November balances appear as early as Thursday evening, with full distribution expected in the coming days, according to HHS.

The monthslong political standoff that delayed the benefits ended Wednesday when the U.S. House passed legislation to end the longest federal government shutdown in American history. The Senate had already passed the measure, and President Donald Trump signed it into law that night, calling it a “very big victory.”

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The compromise funds three annual spending bills and extends the rest of government funding through Jan. 30, according to the Associated Press. Republicans promised to hold a vote by mid-December on extending expiring health care subsidies, though passage is not guaranteed.

Full-year funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture ensures that food-assistance programs such as SNAP and WIC will continue without interruption through the remainder of the budget year, which runs through next September.

During the shutdown, SNAP funding became a legal and logistical maze. The USDA told states Oct. 24 that it would not fund SNAP benefits for November amid the government shutdown, prompting lawsuits and contradictory court rulings that produced a patchwork of food aid across the country.

After judges ruled the Trump administration must tap into reserves to fund SNAP, the administration said it would fund up to 65 percent of its regular allocations. When a judge subsequently ordered full benefits, some states scrambled to quickly load SNAP benefits onto participants’ cards before the Supreme Court put that order on hold.

Some states managed to deliver full monthly benefits, others issued partial payments, and some provided nothing as they awaited USDA guidance. The federal food program serves about 42 million people — roughly one in eight Americans — who receive an average of about $190 monthly per person.

With federal benefits restored, Iowa officials say work is underway to get assistance flowing quickly.

“With the passage of a federal funding bill and the reopening of government operations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has authorized states to resume benefit distribution,” HHS said in the announcement. The agency said it is working to process payments “as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

“We are grateful to be able to resume these essential benefits for Iowa families,” Iowa HHS Director Larry Johnson said. “Our team has been preparing for this moment and is committed to processing payments as quickly and efficiently as possible. This is a powerful example of Iowans stepping up for one another and I’m grateful to everyone who volunteered their time in the food banks and pantries.”

Gov. Kim Reynolds also praised the efforts of volunteers, donors and food assistance organizations who helped meet increased demand during the shutdown.

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“Thanks to the generosity of individuals, businesses, and community partners, our food banks were able to meet the increased demand and ensure no one went hungry during this uncertain time. We are lucky to have such an established and innovative food bank network in the state,” Reynolds said.

The shutdown’s strain on Iowa’s food security system was significant. Statewide food banks reported unprecedented need as SNAP households went weeks without their monthly allotments.

To help meet that surge in demand, Iowa’s six regional food banks have now reached the state’s $1 million donation-match challenge. Reynolds launched the initiative at the beginning of November, pledging that the state would match up to $1 million in private donations to food banks.

Those contributions — from individuals, businesses and groups including Fareway, the Iowa Pork Producers Association, Hy-Vee, and the state’s three managed-care organizations (Iowa Total Care, Molina Healthcare Iowa and Wellpoint Iowa) — helped stock shelves and maintain capacity during the shutdown.

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The matched funds have been distributed proportionally based on the number of SNAP participants served in each food bank region. Officials said the resources have enabled food banks to buy bulk supplies, expand distribution and support local pantries in all 99 counties.

Iowa HHS encouraged recipients to check their EBT card balances and visit hhs.iowa.gov/snap for updates.

Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com